[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8292-H8293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KOREAN WAR VETERANS RECOGNITION ACT OF 2003
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 292) to amend title 4, United States Code, to add
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to the list of days on which
the flag should especially be displayed.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 292
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Korean War Veterans
Recognition Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. DISPLAY OF FLAG ON NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS
ARMISTICE DAY.
Section 6(d) of title 4, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July
27;'' after ``July 4;''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Jackson-Lee) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr.
Sensenbrenner).
General Leave
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 292.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, this bill adds the National Korean War Veterans
Armistice
[[Page H8293]]
Day to the list of days upon which the American flag should especially
be displayed. Currently, title 4 of the U.S. Code provides that the
flag should be displayed on all days, but specifically mentions 10
permanent Federal holidays on which the flag should be displayed. This
bill would amend title 4 to include July 27, the National Korean War
Armistice Day.
Nearly 1.8 million American soldiers fought bravely in harsh weather
and foreign terrain over the course of 3 years to defend democratic
South Korea from an offensive invasion launched by communist North
Korea when its armed forces crossed the 38th parallel. On July 27,
1953, an armistice was signed and North Korea withdrew to its side
allowing South Korea to remain an independent democratic nation. At the
war's conclusion, over 103,000 American soldiers had been wounded, and
36,577 were killed.
The 10 permanent Federal holidays that are currently listed in law
serve to recognize the people and events that have shaped the character
of our Nation. By adding this day to this list, the bill will ensure
that those who fought and died so bravely in the Korean War are
recognized for their contribution to our Nation. I urge my colleagues
to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is certainly appropriate in the backdrop of the
Operation Iraqi Freedom when our young men and women are facing danger
in supporting and uplifting the values of this Nation to be able to
expand our recognition of all of those who have offered themselves on
behalf of the values of this Nation.
I rise to support the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act of 2003,
H.R. 292, and I urge my colleagues to support it. The legislation was
reported unanimously by the Committee on the Judiciary and deserves
support. The bill is very straightforward. It would add the
commemoration of the Korean War Armistice designated by Congress as
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to the list of important
occasions on which the flag is specially displayed. These holidays now
include the birthdays of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Presidents
Washington and Lincoln, Memorial Day, and July 4, among others.
Clearly in the backdrop of the 50th anniversary or commemoration of
the Korean war and our tribute over the past year of the United States
to the Korean war veterans, it is certainly appropriate to be able to
acknowledge and to rephrase the terminology ``the forgotten war.''
Sometimes the Korean war is called the forgotten war. The courageous
service and sacrifice of our Korean war veterans must never be
forgotten, and I emphasize that. It deserves to be commemorated and
honored.
This commemoration deserves to be among those days upon which the
flag is especially flown in honor of that service. Again, to all of our
service men and women serving now and our veterans, it is certainly our
responsibility and challenge to continue to respect you and admire the
work and service you have given and to commit to you again as veterans
that we will never allow any undermining of our commitment to you for
lifetime care. This particular recognition acknowledges the veterans of
a war that will not be forgotten. I urge the adoption of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Korean War Veterans Recognition
Act and urge my colleagues to support it. This legislation was reported
unanimously by the Judiciary Committee and deserves every member's
support.
This bill is very straightforward. It would add the commemoration of
the Korean War Armistice, designated by Congress as ``National Korean
War Veterans' Armistice Day,'' to the list of important occasions on
which the flag is specially displayed. These holidays include the
birthdays of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Presidents Washington and
Lincoln, Memorial Day, and July 4th, among others.
Although sometimes called the ``forgotten war,'' the courageous
service and sacrifice of our Korean war veterans must never be
forgotten. It deserves to be commemorated and honored. This
commemoration deserves to be among those days on which the flag is
specially flown in honor of that service.
I urge the adoption of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume
to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly).
Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, the bill before the House today makes
certain that the heroes of America's forgotten war are not forgotten.
It is important because if we look at the Korean War Veterans Memorial
here in Washington, D.C., we will see the words ``Freedom is not
free.'' We need to remind ourselves that over 36,000 Americans lost
their lives in a war that has been essentially simply forgotten by
many, many people.
Flying the flag on this day makes a difference because people will
look at it, young people will look at it, and they will say why is the
flag flying especially today. The flag is flying because it is a
reminder and a recognition of the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. It
is a day when we all should stop and remember a tremendously difficult
hard-fought war. We had an armistice there, and 1.8 million members of
the United States Armed Forces fought bravely to preserve freedom and
democracy in Korea; and we need to take time out to honor them.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin
(Chairman Sensenbrenner) for his leadership and his assistance in
bringing this measure to the floor this morning, and I urge all Members
to support H.R. 292.
{time} 1045
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to
support this bill.
Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, our Korean war commemoration,
which began on June 25, 2000, on the 50th anniversary of the invasion
of South Korea, continues through Veteran's Day this year.
This past July 27th held special significance because it marked the
50th anniversary of the Korean war armistice.
Begun only 5 years after the end of World War II, the Korean war was,
in many ways, the first reminder that America must remain the world's
leading force for peace, prosperity and freedom--a responsibility we
still hold today.
Called to fight back the brutal forces of communism, 1.8 million
Americans courageously participated in the Korean war. The United
States suffered over 36,000 dead and over 100,000 wounded in some of
the most horrific conditions in the history of warfare. And even today
there are still over 8,000 unaccounted for.
The service and sacrifices of our Korean war veterans 50 years ago
saved a nation from Communist enslavement and gave South Korea the
opportunity to develop and flourish under freedom and democracy.
Sadly, the Korean war is sometimes referred to as the ``forgotten
war.''
Perhaps it was the mood of a nation wanting to return to peace after
the Second World War. But for the U.S. men and women who served, and
for the families and friends of those who paid the ultimate price, the
Korean war can never be forgotten.
By adding the Korean war veterans Armistice Day, July 27, to the list
of days on which the United States Flag should be displayed, this
Congress is sending a message, loud and clear, that ``we will never
forget.''
All Americans must know, as the words etched on the Korean War
Memorial reminds us, that ``freedom is not free.'' It cannot be taken
for granted.
Should this great country wish to preserve its freedom, we must pay
tribute to those who paid the price for it.
Korean war veterans, I salute you.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 292.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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